Important Questions Concerning Caesarian Sections

Are you scared to death about the impending birth of your
baby?

It's completely natural to be frightened. There are many
things that could go wrong.

But there is something you can do to relieve some of
the anxiety. Be informed. Be prepared. Be ready for
anything.

Caesarian Sections are performed when it may be
impossible or unsafe to deliver the baby vaginally, and
are very common. To help you to be prepared in the
event of a caesarian section, I've compiled this short list
of important questions.

What is a Caesarian Section?
A Caesarian section, or c-section, is a surgical
procedure in which an incision is made in the pregnant
mother's abdomen and uterus in order to deliver a baby.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, about 1 in 5 babies is delivered in this
way. Since the majority of these caesarian sections are
unexpected, it's a good idea to know a little bit about
them, even if you are not having a high-risk pregnancy.

Why might I need a Caesarian Section?
Caesarian sections are performed when the health of
the mother or baby is in jeopardy. Sometimes the
necessity of a caesarian section can be anticipated, but most
of the time the decision is made on the spot. You might
need a Caesarian Section if:

* The cervix stops dilating or the baby stops
progressing down the birth canal and all attempts to stimulate
uterine contractions to get things moving have failed

* The baby's heart rate becomes irregular and he
may not be able to withstand continued labor and
vaginal delivery.

* The baby's body is in an abnormal position, such as
breech position where the baby's buttocks is coming out
first, or if the baby is lying horizontally across the birth
canal.

* The baby's head is face-up, instead of face-down, it
may not be able to be delivered vaginally.

* There is a problem with your placenta, such as
placental abruption, where the placenta detaches from
the uterine wall before labor begins, or placenta previa,
where the placenta is born first, cutting off your baby's
oxygen supply.

* You have had a previous caesarian section birth.

* Your baby has a health problem, and will need
immediate medical attention after birth.

* You have a serious health problem, like diabetes,
heart or lung disease, or high blood pressure, and need
induced labor, which can have adverse affects.

* Your baby is very large, or if you have a small or
abnormal pelvis.

* You have a primary herpes simplex infection in your
genital tract, since the infection could be passed to your
baby, leading to serious disease.

* A loop in the umbilical cord comes through the
cervix, or prolapses, and becomes compressed,
decreasing the baby's oxygen supply.

* You are carrying twins or multiples, since there is a
higher possibility that on of the babies will be in an
abnormal position.

What's the down side?
As with any major surgery, there are several risks
involved with caesarian section births. The estimated risk of a
mother dying after a Caesarian birth is less than one in
2,500. As a comparison, the estimated risk of a mother
dying after a vaginal birth is less than one in 10,000.

* There is a risk of infecting other, nearby organs,
such as the bladder or kidneys.

* Blood loss for caesarian sections is, on average,
twice as much as with vaginal births. Even so,
transfusions are only needed in about 1%-6% of cases.

* Surgery of any kind often causes the bowels to slow
down for several days, resulting in distention, bloating,
and discomfort.

* Both hospital stay and recovery time are longer for
Caesarian Section births.

* In any situation where general anesthesia is used,
there is a risk of pneumonia or unexpected reactions to
the anesthetics.

* If the baby's due date was incorrectly calculated, it
could result in premature delivery.

* Babies born by caesarian section are more likely to
develop breathing problems during the first few days of
life.

* There is a slight possibility that the surgeon could
make a mistake and nick the baby while making the
incision in the uterus.

Caesarian sections are more dangerous than vaginal
births, and should only be performed when absolutely
necessary. Since the decision to have a caesarian
section is often unanticipated, it is important that you are
familiar with the procedure, and discuss all of the
possible scenarios with your doctor.